You’ll probably think I’ve dramatizing this a little.
If I’ve left something out, Nathan Stewart will chime in or whisper Alzheimer’s.
You’ve seen the build diary and cheered the madness of a roadster.
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,6794.0.htmlAfter 5 years of building it’s finally finished (relative term). I was tired, enlisted Nathan Stewart to wire the car and tune the EFI, then I asked him to drive it (he had experience).
Here is how we started with the new car in 2014.
The car weights 3150 with driver
Weight distribution is 40% front / 60% rear
Were down to zero % cross weight
Toe-in 1/8 inch
Front tires 24 inch Goodyears
Rear tires 28 inch Goodyears
Torsen differential
In early May 2014 we rolled out to El Mirage for a test day. Braving the elements Nathan ran it up to 60 mph and noticed the car had a pull to the right. Satisfied with the system checks we put the wind to our back and made a 2nd gear run, which went well, however now the car now pulled to the left. Hmmm, changes to come!
We talked to the guru’s, all of them, the advice was consistent, and everyone had a differing opinion!
Change everything! Add weight, Swap the Torsen differential out for a spool, or open diff, go solid on the rear suspension, change the steering, raise the car, and take it to a computerized alignment shop!
A cafeteria of options, what to do?
I borrowed electronic scales, then promptly bought my own, squaring up the chassis (again) and balancing the cross weights.
Never got to run at the May El Mirage, we were fired up, strapped in, at the line, next car to run, when wind stopped the meet.
We ran June, got it up to 150 MPH, it was nervous as a pig in a bacon factory.
Guru’s back on the job, consensus was unanimous, change everything!
Investigation revealed rear axle was bound up, no effective suspension action. The culprit, a self inflected problem, I tried to run 28” Goodyears on the rear (less costly to replace) than my 30” Mickey’s, which the car was designed for.
High dollar fix, new 30 Dunlops, a better choice for El Mirage. With compliance, decided to up the rear spring rate to a 700 lb/in.
2nd issue, every mail order Heim was junk, sloppy after 2 runs, replaced all with quality pieces.
Last, off to 4-wheel alignment shop.
Rained out for the July meet. Disappointed, we tested again, didn’t feel the car was stable enough to take to Bonneville.
For September race, 3 changes (I know) pulled the Torsen Posi for an open differential. Swapped the front Goodyears for grooved M&H’s, upped the rear springs to 900 lb/in. Tested again and the car felt better, but not great.
Gurus were clamoring for weight, and/or a solid rear suspension, who am I to argue, some have cars that run faster than mine.
So weight it was, added 250 lbs lead in front of the rear tires. Also physically added another 100 lbs steel plate directly under the drivers butt. He’s a health boy; this balanced the car L/R.
Again better, but not great. Were up to an unstable 150!!!
For October went solid on rear, got a spin tag. WTF?
For November added a spool to rear axle, rake to the chassis, added 200 lbs lead in rear. Car ran dead straight until it snap-spun. Made 2 more passes, right up to the nervous point, 150 mph, called it a year.
What did we learn this year? These cars take a lot of hard work to run, and I’m not as clever as I though.
The car does what it wants to do. But I have my theories on updates to make it handle.
2015
For 2015 I concentrated on the front end of the car, my ideas alone. Cut the front apart, added conventional hot rod buggy spring, moved shocks to conventional hot rod position. Added additional 250 lbs over front spring. And, put the rear suspension back on with 1100 lb/in springs.
May 2015, rained out!
June 2015, new front end, handling not improved, sobering experience.
July, went solid on rear, built 120 lb new rear weight bar, back to alignment shop, handling not improved.
At this point…. I was apoplectic, highly irritable. I was determined to beat the gremlins off this car. A friend came over (he previously owned a fast roadster) and said, have you considered EVERYTHING in the front suspension? I hadn’t.
Being irritable, un-distracted and focused, I was determined to change everything, at once a last ditch move. So, I vented the cockpit cover, vented the engine side panels, and added 4 large vents in the rear deck lid.
Pulled the complete steering out of the car, from steering wheel to steering arms, everything in between. Added a new Corvair, hot rod drag link steering system, new steering shafts. Ripped the front suspension apart, cut the mounts apart, built a custom, stiff, front spring from 2 springs. Repositioned the front shocks. Aligned the car myself.
September 2015, car ran straight on 1st pass @185 mph. 2nd pass @190 mph. Finally!
For October, needed to add acceleration, decided to go with a lower gear set. This required pulling the spool, adding a Detroit Locker. Drained the recent rear weight bar of lead shot, added molten lead (100 lbs additional).
October, rained out, good I needed a rest.
November 2015 – ran 206 mph, qualified for the 200 mph lane at El Mirage.
Video (3.28 min, turn sound off if you don't like the music)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-cBfHoCM2A